Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations was pleased to present its Report on the 2014 Review of the Official Languages Act to the House on Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

The report was read into the record, received by the House and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

The mandate of the committee’s review comes directly from the Official Languages Act. Members will recall from the report presented yesterday that the standing committee’s approach to the review was to pick up from where the last legislative review, which was conducted in 2009...

Previous efforts to bridge the gap. Right now the gap is getting wider as our discussions take place, or lack of discussions on the fundamental differences in terms of the jurisdiction, the ownership and also the sovereignty of the Dehcho First Nations asserted territory.

Previous efforts were to mandate a federal ministerial envoy to help facilitate that gap between the Dehcho First Nations and the federal government.

Does the Minister agree to a mediator as an option to help facilitate getting beyond the current impasse? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) to have Committee Report 14-17(5), Report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations Review of the 2014 Official Languages Act, be moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its report on the 2014 Review of the Official Languages Act and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations, the “standing committee” or “SCOGO,” is pleased to report on its 2014 Review of the Official Languages Act.

In June 1984 the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories passed its first Official Languages Ordinance. Modeled on federal official languages legislation, the territorial legislation guaranteed that members of the public could access government...

Through his role as the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, what other considerations would the department consider to maybe exhaust all options to try to move the negotiations forward, if there is still a willingness on the part of the GNWT to move negotiations forward? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister just alluded to perhaps an indication of some environmental factors in terms of snowpack, in terms of trying to predict whether we’re going to have another dry season or not.

Can the Minister at least give an indication to the House in terms of his efforts or department’s efforts to try and forecast whether we’re going to have another drought season or not? Mahsi.

This community receiving a fire tower wasn’t a random decision. I know ENR considers the geography and the location of these towers.

How was it determined that Enterprise would see a fire tower? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In the past I’ve stood up in the House to celebrate the hardworking town of Enterprise, our gateway to the NWT. Even though it’s a small town with a population of just over 100 people, and in spite of recent economic challenges, Enterprise is home to great civic enthusiasm and a number of exciting ideas for economic development.

Just this past December the hamlet elected a new counsel including two counsellors in their early twenties. It’s great to see young people participating in their communities like this. While we were sad to say goodbye to Winnie’s Restaurant, a staple...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In concluding its report, the Standing Committee on Government Operations makes the following recommendations:

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment table an official languages strategy that includes a clear response to the 2009 review, identifying which recommendations were accepted and rejected and the reasons why. This report must clearly articulate the vision for the department’s “new approach” and identify how this coincides with and differs from the vision contained in the 2009 report.

Wit...

Maybe I could ask the Premier, is there a message that you would like to impart to the Dehcho First Nations to try to get negotiations back on track? Mahsi.